Washington University is a nice school. I don’t just mean academically, this place is basically a country club. We are ranked number one for best college dorms and number three for best campus food. The food is often made to order and always made with high-quality ingredients. Food options are vast and downright delicious—for the love of God, we can go to a candlelit sit-down restaurant and get steak and sangria on our meal points, the DUC serves gnocchi about once a week, students can even order frog legs if they feel the need. Even the half and half is the best chicken tenders and fries I have ever had in my life. And when it comes to the dorms, we all get Tempur-Pedic mattresses, and those in the South 40 have their bathrooms professionally cleaned weekly. Need I go on?

When I came to Wash. U. I was thrilled. I’m from St. Louis and I had grown up intrigued by the concept of Wash.U. When driving past as a kid I remember always pressing myself against the glass of the car and craning my neck to see the towers of Brookings, in awe of the beautiful brick and dreaming about what kind of education and opportunities the institution held. I dreamt of going, but as I expressed this as a kid I had many people laugh, tell me it wasn’t likely, to keep dreaming. I worked as hard as I could in high school, but no longer thought of having the privilege of attending Wash. U.. I was just trying to earn a scholarship wherever I could get in as my family could not afford tuition anywhere. I sent Wash. U. my Common Application because my parents urged that it was worth the shot, but I did so half-heartedly, expecting rejection. When I got in I was shocked; it honestly felt like they had made a mistake and I was waiting to receive a follow-up email retracting the offer.

When my parents moved me in they were gleaming with pride, snapping pictures of everything from my triple dorm room to the fancy water fountains that fill your bottle. I brought my dad down to Bear’s Den and as we were overwhelmed by the choices, he grew serious and had a talk with me. This place was nice, too nice for his comfort. He did not want me to become spoiled, to forget who I am or where I came from. I receive full financial aid and due to this have stayed in Wash.U. housing all four years, and as I went from on-campus to off-campus Wash.U. housing his concern continued. He would help me move in, look around the space with me and just shake his head. He has worked hard his whole life, often holding multiple jobs, and here I was, virtually a child, barely any life experience and living in conditions nicer than anything he had ever experienced in his life. I felt guilty, I still do.

I had expected my peers to feel similarly, to be in awe of the amenities, to be thrilled by the opportunity, the absolute privilege, we all have received by getting to be educated at somewhere like Wash.U. But instead, I often hear people whine about what Ivy League schools they didn’t get into, calling Wash.U. a fake Ivy or an Ivy wannabe. I have been surrounded by insults to the food, insults to the housing, insults to the institution. When this is the nicest condition anyone in my family has ever lived in, when there were times that my mom would not eat her fill because we had no more money for food and she wanted to make sure I was taken care of, when I am thrilled by something as simple as fresh fruits and vegetables when I had been raised on Hamburger Helper made with manager’s special (code for expired) meat and canned vegetables. It made me feel out of place, forced shame on my upbringing and has often left me feeling silent and dejected in conversations with my peers. I am proud of my family, and I appreciate how hard my parents worked to give me the opportunities that have blessed my life. But man did I get exhausted by the level of ingratitude I felt around me at times.

This is not to say the University is perfect. This very problem is reflective of the lack of socioeconomic diversity on campus, a problem the University has been made aware of and has since been working to lessen. This has lead to a plethora of other resources that have enhanced my life; the Student Union Mental Health Fund that allowed me to seek therapy when I could not have otherwise afforded it, the Student Union Opportunity Fund that allows students to participate in activities with their peers and that would have allowed me to go to Senior Week had it not been canceled. There is always a need, and the University still has a great deal to do, but I believe, with beautiful programs like the Deneb STARS that began my first year, they will keep working to meet this need.

And now, with the terrifying mess that is COVID-19, the University has been put in a lose-lose situation—students scattered, all new needs to be met, a complete restructure in classes. While we all may be frustrated by issues such as vague communication and short notice evictions that left many scrambling to find a place to live, it is important to keep things in perspective. We are all stressed, this is a nightmare situation and not at all how any of us planned for the year to go. The University administration are human beings who are also stressed, also confused and they are trying their best to make this terrible situation cause as little suffering to their students as they can, however, a great deal of suffering is still going to happen. There are certain things that are naturally going to make students uncomfortable, such as having their things packed and shipped by strangers, but sometimes it is impossible to be perfectly comfortable, and now is certainly one of those times. The University has made mistakes and will likely continue to make mistakes, but this situation is so difficult that mistakes are inevitable. Appreciating that they are trying their best and doing all that they can for their students is important. Offering services such as the Crisis Emergency Fund is proof to me of the love the University has for its students.

All of this is not to say that you cannot complain about the University. When you see injustice, see a need that is not being met, voice your concerns, make yourself heard. Usually, you will find they listen. And when they don’t, keep advocating and keep pushing until you are heard. I am just asking that you remember your privilege as a student at this University, that you think twice before insulting the ridiculously nice amenities that Wash. U. provides. Think of how your words are affecting those around you. Keep in mind that this is a college, compare the living conditions to other colleges—things might not be as nice here as at your own home, and if that is the case, count your blessings and know that for others this may be the nicest living conditions they will ever experience. Do not let your privilege tear down others’ accomplishments.